Caesar salad was created in 1924 by Caesar Cardini (1896-1956) at his Italian restaurant (Caesar's Restaurant) in Tijuana, Mexico. Initially, his Caesar salad was made with whole leaves of romaine lettuce, tossed at the table and eaten with the fingers, and was intended as an entrée. Today, served at restaurants of every type, it's a salad of convenience and often includes chicken or beef. When the salad was first introduced though, the non-vegetable ingredients were strictly seafood such as anchovies and shrimp. Caesar Cardini was born near Lago Maggiore, Italy, in 1896. He and his brother Alex emigrated to the U.S. after World War I. The Cardini's lived in San Diego but operated their restaurant in Tijuana to circumvent Prohibition.

Alternate: Paul Maggiora, a partner of the Cardini's, claimed to have tossed the first Caesar's salad in 1927 for American airmen from San Diego and called it “Aviator's Salad”. Caesar's brother Alex had claimed to have developed the salad (he too allegedly called it “aviator's salad”). Livio Santini claimed he made the salad from a recipe of his mother, in the kitchen of Caesar's restaurant when he was 18 years old, in 1925, and that Caesar took the recipe from him.

Jennifer's loafing at work
finally caught up with her. She was called on the carpet for not spending enough time @ joe-ks.com.

Origin:

In military parlance, called
on the carpet refers to having to present oneself to a superior officer,
report at attention and receive a disciplining for some offense.
Sometimes a defense is allowed, but often, the communication is quite simple,
clear, and unidirectional, with the recipient being forced to stand at
attention while the abuse takes place.

Although no longer true, there was a time when only the top officers
had carpet in their offices. Hence the carpet referred to the
office of a senior officer.

The term is also used in the business world. To carpet someone goes back to the days of the Victorian Civil Service when attainment of a certain status carried with it the right to a piece of carpet in the office.

This phrase originated in the old days when cans of food started to rot.

Alternative: It’s a Canadian or American metaphor coined sometime in the 1950s. Bait stores sold cans of worms (and other popular live baits) to fishermen, who often discovered how easy it was to open a can of worms - and how difficult it was to close one. Once the worms escaped though, it became nearly impossible to keep them contained.

Related phrases: “Don’t open up a can of worms” and “Opening Pandora’s box”.

If you can imagine a string
of continuous printed text, and a single word attempting to wedge its way
into that text. The easiest way to find space for that word
would be to turn that word on its edge, to make it very thin, as in the
profile of a printed word. If you can’t get the word in edgewise,
then there must be no break or room in the text or conversation.

Recorded in 1546, this old English saying goes back well before the 16th Century. Cats were regarded as tenacious of life because of their careful, suspicious nature and because they are supple animals that can survive long falls (thought not from the top of a skyscraper as some believe).

Alternative: This phrase comes from an old Irish legend about witches who turned themselves into cats and into people eight times. On the ninth time, on August 17th, they couldn’t turn back. August was thought to be a “yowly” time for cats, and could have prompted speculation about witches on the prowl.

This phrase comes from an old Irish legend about witches who turned themselves into cats and into people eight times. On the ninth time, on August 17th, they couldn’t turn back. August was thought to be a “yowly” time for cats, and could have prompted speculation about witches on the prowl.

The first Egyptian scourges were made of thongs of cat hide. The nine tails of the scourge,
similar to the “nine lives” of a cat, could also have suggested the name.
“Cat” alluded to the scratches that the knotted ends of the lash made on the victim’s back, like those from a cat’s claws. Scourging criminal offenders with a whip is an old punishment. There are cases in
medieval England of prisoners receiving 60,000 strips from whips with three lashes and
20 knots in each tail. But the cat-o’-nine-tails, composed of one 18-inch handle with
nine tails and three or more knots on each tail, only dates back to about 1670. Men
were flayed alive with this scourge, which people believed was more holy, and thus
effective, because its nine tails were a “trinity of trinities” (3 X 3 = 9).
Source: “Word And Phrase Origins”, Robert Hendrickson.

A “no win” situation - one where, whatever happens, there will almost certainly be a bad outcome.

Example:

Origin:

Catch 22 was the title of the 1955 novel by Joseph Heller set on a USA AF WWII base. The aircrew are on the edge of breakdown; they must be mad to go on another mission, but the fact that they realise that they must be mad means that they must be sane at the same time. They have to continue flying. Truly a “no win situation”.

Why call it Catch 22? During WWII daylight missions flown by the USA AF over Germany, many of the aircraft were shot down. Others were damaged but managed to get back to England. A very few were so damaged that, although they could still fly, they couldn’t make it back to base. Such aircraft were allowed by U.S. military law to divert to neutral countries like Sweden and Switzerland. Once there, the crews were interned but they were out of the war. This near-death scenario of gross but not fatal damage was covered by USA AF general directive number 22. Hence, if you could fall into, or catch, the tiny area of severe but not disastrous damage, all would be well. However the likelihood was that you wouldn’t and you’d be either shot down and possibly killed, or back in the war.

The Christian martyr St. Catherin of Alexandria is said to have confessed her faith to Roman Emperor Maximinus and rebuked him for the worship of false gods. After she converted his wife and the Roman general who escorted her to prison, Maximinus ordered her broken on the wheel, but the spiked wheel was shattered to pieces by her touch. This virgin of royal descent was then put to death by the axe, and tradition has it that her body was carried by angels to Mount Sinai where Justinian I built a famous monastery in her honour. St. Catherine is known as the patron saint of wheelwrights and mechanics, and her name day is November 25. The Catherine wheel, fireworks in the shape of a wheel rotated by the explosions; the circular, spoked Catherine wheel window; and Catherine wheels, lateral somersaults, all derive from her name.

She doesn’t know about her surprise
retirement party - don’t let the cat out of the bag!

Origin:

There are two suggested origins for this phrase.
A. The fraud of substituting a cat for a piglet at markets (as early as 1530).
If you let the cat out of the bag, you disclosed the trick - and avoided buying a pig in a poke (bag).

B. An old sailor’s expression where the “Cat-o’-nine-tails” is taken out of its velvet bag - intended for
use on an ill-disciplined sailor who was to be tied to the mast and flogged.This second meaning is suspicious since it doesn’t match the 'disclose a secret' meaning of the phrase. Thanks to Russell Nilson.

The first known printed use of the phrase is in a 1760 edition of The London Magazine:
“We could have wished that the author... had not let the cat out of the bag.”

A person found to be deliberately trying to overhear a conversation not intended for their ears.

Example:

Origin:

The phrase goes back centuries to the time when most houses had no gutters - the rain dripped off the roofs but the roofs themselves projected well beyond the walls. This area inside where the water dripped was known originally as the Eavesdrip, and later as the Eavesdrop. People sheltering here were somewhat protected from the rain, but could also overhear what was going on in the house.

Finding oneself in an awkward, unexpected, and
uncompromising situation.

Example:

Never one to be caught with his pants down, he made an impeccable recovery and gave a respectful
welcome on our behalf, making the best of an awkward situation using his characteristic dry humour
and wit.

Origin:

This expression can be traced to the England in the 1920s, where it was caught with one’s trousers down.
The phrase is likelier much older and kept out of print for prudish reasons until the 1920s.

(1) It refers to a man caught with a lady in media res by her husband.

(2) The situation arose when a hostile Indian came upon a frontiersman answering the call of nature
in the woods without his rifle at his side.

Rita felt very comfortable in the store’s new chaise lounge, imported from Paris.

Origin:

The French called it a chaise longue, or “long chair,” but Americans,
on importing it from France, assumed that the longue in the expression was French for “lounge.” Chaise lounge has remained ever since, despite
all the efforts of purists.

Shane came out of the motorcycle accident without a
scratch - he must lead a charmed life.

Origin:

Shakespeare used this phrase in Macbeth (5:8): “Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests, I bear a charmed life, which must not yield to one of woman born.” In later years, the term was extended to anyone who narrowly escaped from danger or was similarly lucky.

The phrase is not related to price, but rather to quality. Thus something that is of very poor quality could still be thought of as “cheap”, even if it were “half the price”. The saying first came into usage in the mid 19th century, when impecunious members of the aristocracy were forced to borrow money from high interest charging money lenders, the lenders themselves being regarded as “cheap” individuals for so demeaning themselves by lending money at such high rates of interest that they would still be regarded as “cheap” even if they charged half the rate.

The Inuit used to chew on pieces of whale blubber almost like chewing gum.
The blubber took quite a while to dissolve, so it just sort of helped pass the time while they were doing something else.

Alternative: Sailors had to chew on salt pork when supplies were low, complaining about the poor food as they did.
To “chew the rag” is based on chewing pieces of rag when the chewing tobacco had run out.

Alternative: This phrase refers to the processing and softening of hides by native Americans. This was the job of old women. Toothless old women would literally “chew the fat” off the inside of animal skins to make the hides soft and pliable. And, as the old women worked the hides, old did what old women will do - TALK, and “chew the fat”. Thanks to Sterling McCosh, Ephraim, Utah.

Henrietta had a chip on her shoulder for being turned down for another promotion.

Origin:

The phrase is based on an American schoolboy custom, about 200 years old. When two boys were arguing and itching for a fight then one would place an actual chip of wood on his shoulder and challenge the other to knock it off. If the challenge was taken up, then the proper fight started.

“Chock” has several definitions.
One is “as close or as completely as possible”. “Chock Full” means literally to be as close as possible to being
full.

Chock-a-block indicates that something or somewhere is grossly over full. Of naval origin, the phrase was used when two blocks of tackle were stuck so hard together that they couldn’t be tightened further. The modern colloquial “this room is chockers”.

An ancient custom of putting up a Christmas Tree to celebrate the Christmas season.

Example:

Family and friends gather around the Christmas tree to celebrate the festive holiday season and watch their children gleafully open their presents.

Origin:

German settlers brought the custom to America, where English-speaking setttlers called it the Christmas tree. First recorded in 1838, Germans call the small decorated firs or spruces they use a Weihnachtsbaum, or “holy-night tree.” Americans at first thought the trees idolatrous, but soon realized the German immigrants weren’t worshipping the tree and adopted the custom themselves.

When pursued by hounds or other adversaries, hares will stop from time to time to catch their breath. They routinely sit up on their haunches and look around; their respiratory movements are so strong that their chests heave in and out and their front legs move in time with the breathing. To the observer they appear to be clapping and, in the world of hare hunting, this is exactly what it’s called.

Bells such as the type
used in churches are large and loud. Their sound can be heard from a great
distance. Bells sound a single, clear note so their sound is distinctive
and not easily confused.

Before electric sirens and amplification systems, bells were a valuable
means of signaling people and alerting of important events - like an impending
attack. The bell and the message intended could be heard clearly over a
large area.

Back in the 1910’s, many companies were trying to get into the manufacturing
and selling one the hottest items around - the phonograph. One of those
companies was the Sonora Chime Company. This company started the Sonora Phonograph Company and used “Clear as a Bell” as their slogan, touting the fidelity of their machine’s sound
reproduction.

To join in something that looks as if it will be a success, often with a view to gaining some sort of personal benefit.

Example:

When the Vancouver Canucks
are winning, I will jump on the bandwagon and be a fan.

Origin:

This goes back to the southern USA custom of bands playing on a wagon in front of a religious or political rally. Supporters would jump on board in order to show their enthusiasm. Although the practice is of some age, the saying itself is first recorded about the Presidential campaign of William Jennings Bryan early in the 20th century.
Climbing (or jumping) on the bandwagon was akin to providing your support for this popular candidate.

One could imagine a cock crowing proudly and the analogy with a crowing cock.

Alternative: During medieval drinking bouts the spigot or cock was often removed from the barrel and placed on the hoop at the top. The beer flowed freely and the drinkers were full of merriment and delight. The 1811 dictionary, however, spells it Cock-a-whoop, thereby raising an altogether different possibility.

I don’t want to hear another
Cock and Bull story about why you are late, just be here on time
from now on.

Origin:

This is a corruption of a “concocted and bully story”. Bully is the Danish bullen, or exaggerated.
Therefore, it stands to reason that a cock and bull story is a made up, exaggerated story.

Alternative: The ancient north Buckinghamshire town of Stony Stratford, now part of the new city of Milton Keynes, is famous as the place of origin of the term 'Cock & Bull Story', recognised throughout the English-speaking world.
This dates back to the late 18th/early 19th centuries, at the height of the great coaching era, when Stony Stratford (which is located on the old Roman Road of Watling Street, latterly the A5) was an important stopping-off point for mail and passenger coaches travelling between London and the North.
Travellers on these coaches were regarded as a great source of current news from remote parts of the country - news which would be imparted in the town’s two main inns, The Cock and The Bull. The two establishments rapidly developed a rivalry as to which could furnish the most outlandish and scurrilous travellers’ tales. Hence Cock & Bull Story.Thanks to Dave Evans, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.

“Cock up” is an innocent expression meaning “error” used by printers and others, including poachers. This latter group could well be the true origin since it is claimed that, if you startle a pheasant that you’re stalking, then it will squawk and the noise sounds like “cock up”.

Alternative: “Cocking” a flintlock pistol. If not cocked up there was likely to be a disaster when the trigger was pulled.

Alternative: The arrows of traditional English long bows had three feathers. One of these, named the “cock” feather, had to be positioned away from the line of the bow string, otherwise it would hit the string and affect the flight of the arrow to produce a “cock up”.

Alternative: When a fermented barrel of wine is ready to be run-off for bottling, a stop-cock is driven into the barrel and a sample is tasted to check for quality. If the wine has turned sour, the cock is twisted upside down showing that the barrel is not to be used.

Alternative: In the ranks of soldiers practicing manoeuvres with their flint-lock (or percussion-cap) rifles, it was not unusual to hear a rifle discharge when it shouldn’t have done. Some rifles lacked the trigger guard that is now mandatory, and trigger mechanisms in general were not to be trusted.
Subsequently, when the rifles where slammed and jerked from position to position, any recruit who had eagerly cocked their rifle in error, would be likely to inadvertently fire the rifle. The remark would be “well, that was a cock up”... the mistake becoming known as a 'cock-up', and giving name to many other accidental happenings.

Alternative: “Cock-up” is a well-known nautical expression. The Cock is the upper foremost corner of a gaff sail rigged sail. The Head is the upper edge and the peak the upper after corner. When fully raised the peak is higher than the cock. When raising the gaff, 2 gangs will operate the halyards both on the
cock end and peak end of the gaff. It is most important that they raise the gaff horizontal, otherwise this large piece of timber will slew sideways into the mast (it has a metal ring round the mast to stop it coming away completely) and jams fast and then becomes impossible to either raise or lower. This is most acute if the cock is above the peak hence a 'cock-up'. It is quite easily done if the 2 gangs are not paying attention to each other.

Cockles come from the belief that 17th century anatomists likened the shape of the ventricles of the heart to that of the marine mollusc of the same name and, of course, the heart has always been regarded as the seat of love and affection.

I am not going outside.
It is cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey and mine
are considerable more sensitive.

Origin:

In the 1700s cannon balls
and black powder were carried by boys referred to as “powder monkeys”.

One explanation has it that the balls were stacked in the familiar pyramid
configuration with a wooden triangle holding the bottom layer together.
These wooden triangles (perhaps as an extension of powder monkey) were
also referred to as “monkeys”. The trouble with wooden monkeys was that
they couldn’t take much abuse before shattering under the impact of dropped
cannon balls.

The next material used to make monkeys was brass. These worked perfectly
in warmer weather. The trouble with brass monkeys was that they tended
to shrink a little when the weather turned cold enough. This shrinkage
squeezed the bottom layer up, sending balls rolling all over the deck.

Interesting tale, but not likely. The boys were definitely
called powder monkeys, and the triangles may indeed have been called monkeys.
But the idea that cold weather would cause enough shrinkage to squeeze
out the cannon balls is fanciful. Brass is an alloy made of copper
and nickel and is quite stable.

Considering the size of even a small cannon ball is perhaps 2 to 3 inches
in diameter, the amount of shrinkage of the monkey would have to be a couple
of inches to push out the balls. Impossible.

Alternative: On war ships, it was necessary to keep a good supply of canon balls near the
cannon. But how to prevent them from rolling about the deck was the problem
The best storage method devised was to stack them as a square based pyramid,
with one ball on top, resting on four, resting on nine, which rested on
sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area
right next to the cannon.
There was only one problem -- how to prevent the bottom layer from
sliding/rolling from under the others.
The solution was a metal plate with 16 round indentations, called a Monkey.
But if this plate was made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it.
The solution to the rusting problem was to make brass Monkeys. Few
landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron
when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass
indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannon balls would come
right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass
monkey.

To put someone at a disadvantage; to thwart their efforts to achieve a goal.

Example:

Origin:

The phrase is recorded in an 1851 London street ballard, but its origin is obscure. Suggestions range from Eric, King of Sweden, coming to a certain town with very few soldiers. The enemy, in mockery, hung out a goose for him to shoot at. Finding, however, that the king meant business, and that it would be no laughing matter for them, they sent heralds to ask him what he wanted. “To cook your goose for you,” he facetiously replied.

Alternative: In 1560, a town attacked by the Mad King of Sweden (Eric XIV), hung up a goose - a symbol of stupidity - in protest. The furious king threatened, “I’ll cook your goose!”

Alternative: The origin might come from the 'The Goose that laid the Golden Egg' where the greed of the peasants caused the goose to be killed. In truth, no one knows for sure.

Alternative: Long before chickens were commonly kept, geese were the principle source of eggs. Of course, with meat being a prized and limited commodity, eggs were the principle source of protein in someone’s diet. However, were someone to kill and eat your goose, there went your source of protein.
Thanks to Shelia Clark.

The Canadian Liberal government has a lot of expertise in cooking the books.

Origin:

This phrase originated in the mid 17th century and relates to the act of cooking, where ingredients are changed, altered and improved by the process. Financial statements can also be so modified to the benefit of the 'cook'.

Alternative: Such a change, in a negative way, is also seen in the expression to 'cook someone’s goose', thereby depriving the owner of the benefit of the animal, either alive or dead.

The trick to handling a
job interview is to walk in cool as a cucumber and pretend you know
what you are talking about.

Origin:

“Cool as a cumber” is an
alliteration.

Alternative: A cut cucumber actually can feel cool to the touch. Because
they are very moist, evaporation of the moisture provides a cooling effect.
Even on a warm day, a field cucumber stays about 20 degrees cooler than the outside air.
Though scientists didn’t prove this until 1970, the saying has been around since
the 18th Century.

The bizarre image of woman receiving facial treatments with slices of
cucumber on each eye is brought to mind. It is precisely for this cooling
effect that this is done.

The Liberal government issued an election copper bottomed guarantee to clean up corruption, except for Svend Robinson.

Origin:

Wooden ships are particularly prone to damage from underwater rocks and other obstacles; they are also particularly prone to encrustation from barnacles and other sea creatures. In order to significantly reduce the chance of damage, and encrustation, really well built expensive ships were given a copper bottom. This almost guaranteed that they would suffer only minimal damage or encrusting. The smooth bottom meant that they were faster than their rivals and could be guaranteed to arrive earlier.

Children place their fist outward to be counted by way of touching each fist in succession to a rhyme. The last fist touched is the one chosen to lead the game, or rather “it.” The term “dukes” comes from the slang for fist, as in “put up your dukes.”
Thanks to John Stout.

Visa would gladly issue credit where credit is due for anyone foolish enough to pay their exorbitant & ludicrously high interest rates.

Origin:

The expression “credit card” was coined in 1888 by futurist author
Edward Bellamy, who wrote a fictional account of a young man who wakes up in the year 2000 and discovers that cash has
been replaced in favour of “a credit corresponding to his share of the annual product of the nation, and a credit card
is issued to him with which he procures at the public storehouses whatever he desires, whenever he desires it.” Sixty years later his vision, in slightly altered form, came true.

Originally it related to a Chriss-cross or Christ-cross and referred to the alphabet in a Hornbook, which had a cross like a Maltese cross at the beginning and end. The emphasis today is more in the sense of crossing a barrier or hurdle in an undisciplined way, not the neat and orderly manner of a Hornbook.

A Hornbook was a thin board about 9"x 5" with a handle. It served as a backing for a sheet of vellum or paper on which was written or printed the alphabet, the Lord’s prayer, an exorcism or Roman numerals. The whole was covered by a piece of transparent horn. The handle had a hole so that it could be tied to a schoolchild’s belt. Such books were still in use in England in the 18th century.

Pretending to cry in an attempt
to manipulate or exploit, phony tears; fake tears; false grief.

Example:

OJ gave his testimony through
crocodile tears.

Origin:

In ancient Rome (about AD 300), people used this expression. About 1,000 years later, people enjoyed listening to a popular folktale about how crocodiles make loud weeping sounds to trap innocent prey who come to see what all the wailing is about. The crocodile supposedly weeps fake tears even as they eat their victims.

Alternative: It was often thought that crocodiles shed tears that slid down into their mouths, moistening their food and making it easier for them to swallow. Hence the tears appear to be an expression of emotion but are in fact a means to make it easier to swallow.

Alternative: When at rest basking in the sun crocodiles have their mouths open, this
position of the jaw puts pressure on the tear glands and causes them to
shed tears. Hence crocodile tears are not real since they are a physical response, not an emotional one.

British writers such as Shakespeare, Bacon, and Tennyson used “crocodile tears” to suggest insincere sympathy and pretended sorrow.

Alternative: The thought was first seen in English when Sir John Maundevilles book Voyage and Travail appeared in 1400: There be great plenty of Cokadrilles - these serpents slay men, and then weeping, eat them.Thanks to Max Cryer.

This phrase comes from a famous “Punch” cartoon of the 19th century in which a young curate is seen having breakfast with his Bishop. The curate’s egg is clearly not fresh and, when asked by the Bishop, “How is your egg?”, is forced to politely reply, “Excellent, in parts”.

“Curry” refers to a horse riding term for grooming or rubbing down an animal. The “favour” is an alteration of the word Favel. Favel was the name of the half horse, half man Centaur in the early 14th century French satirical romance Le Roman de Fauvel. This beast was cunning and evil and it was just as well to keep on the right side of him. To curry him kept him in a good mood.

In the old days anchor “cables” were made of rope. If a ship was at anchor and suddenly came under attack the crew would not attempt to raise the anchor; rather they would cut the rope and allow the ship to run before the wind.

You and your father are
cut from the same cloth - bike guys love to stick together.

Origin:

If you’re making a suit,
the jacket and trousers should be cut from the same piece of cloth to ensure
a perfect match, since there may be differences in color, weave etc. between
batches of fabric. Only if the whole suite is cut from the
same piece of cloth can we be sure of the match.

The farmer had his work cut out for him to get the wheat harvested before the rain came.

Origin:

This phrase is from dressmaking or carpentry, where pattern parts are literally cut out so you see what needs to be assembled. Whatever the pieces are, the mission is clear, and the work to be done is evident; your work has been cut out for you - get on with it!

This story is dragging on. Cut to the chase and tell me about the relevant issues.

Origin:

“Chase” refers to the obligatory
scene that is the exciting climax of many action films. Someone watching
an action movie with a slow build up, might be wishing the movie would
literally “cut to the chase”.

In fact many marginal movies have been released because of a good chase
scene. A movie executive screening a film that appears to less than tremendous
might instruct the projectionist to advance the film to the chase scene
such that a quick determination could be made regarding the movie’s prospects.

I don’t want to hear the
story from the beginning. Cut to the quick and give me the scoop.

Origin:

A: “Quick” is actually defined
as meaning flesh or skin.

That definition has survived in reference to the fingernail. The
“quick” is the part of finger, beneath the nail, that relies on the nail
for protection. If you cut your fingernail too short and (painfully)
expose the tender flesh beneath, you have cut it to the quick.

In hand to hand duel or battle a combatant who wished to taunt his opponent,
might intentionally cut through the clothes or armor “to the quick”.
The act of cutting through clothes to the flesh is to cut through the insignificant
to the substantial.

If someone cuts you with a knife but it’s a shallow wound and inconsequential,
then you wouldn’t use this phrase. If they cut you deeply, or stabbed
you, then you might say they’d cut you to the quick. Again this is
cutting though the inconsequential to the meaningful.

This may also be related to the use of the word “quickening” to describe
the hypothetical moment when a fetus becomes a baby. This term and
idea were once very common in both Anglophile Europe and the Americas.

In either case, there is a clear meaning of penetrating the dead, dull
stuff and getting to the live, important bits. This translates very
nicely to the most common use of the phrase today, to mean skipping to
the important part of a story or explanation.

Alternative: “Cut to the quick” has the same origin as “Quick and the Dead”. Here “quick” comes from the old English Cwicu meaning “living” and thus to “cut to the quick” implies a deep wound into living flesh.